The Baby Project

13. Answers

 "That's correct Mr..." Mai trailed off as she stared at the familiar face. He looked exactly like Naru except for some small details that she was able to discern. Naru was slightly taller and had hair that brushed his eyelashes on occasion when he was thinking or reading while this, stranger?, had shorter hair and lighter eyes that seemed to be glowing from within.

"You can call me Eugene, or Gene for short, for now. Any questions for me or would you rather me talk while you listen?" Gene stared at the short woman in front of him. He knew that she had a temper, knew that she had some slight trust issues, knew that she had feelings for his twin brother.

"I only have one question for you and then you can talk all you want." Mai turned her gaze to some of the floating orbs and then began to wring her hands. "Why did you let me call you Naru instead of correcting me? Was it all a game for you?" Tears began to form at the corner of her eyes as she struggled to keep all of the swarming emotions from boiling over inside of her. She was angry, hurt, confused, happy, and even a little scared.

Angry because she should have realized, should have known, that he wasn't her Naru. Angry because he should've told her!

Hurt because he hadn't trusted her enough, cared enough to share with her this small fact. Hurt that she had been fooled by a stranger with a familiar face.

Confused because she didn't understand why part of her was relieved for this revelation. Confused because this craziness made sense.

Happy because now the feeling of unease in her dreams made sense. Happy because maybe now she would be able to help more.

Scared because she didn't know which feeling to react with. Scared because what if her feelings for Naru had stemmed from this man in front of her?

"Mai, I promise on my watery grave that I am not playing a game with you. At first the reason why I didn't tell you was because I was scared that you would panic and run away. Naru needs you and he doesn't realize this yet. I was hoping that if you didn't know who I was you would hang around longer and maybe introduce him to humanity and-" Gene cut himself off before he revealed some information that he was sure he wasn't supposed to have himself.

"After that, I kind of grew to think of you as a friend of mine. I didn't want to lose you. However now that I think about it, I probably screwed that up huh?" He sighed and stared at the back of her head, aware that her body was tensed up. "Now for the rest of my story." Gene sat on the ground silently before waiting for her to turn around and look at him. With a wave of his hand and a pleading look, she joined him.

"It all started when I wanted to visit some of my pen pals in Japan. I had just finished visiting one and was walking back to one of the bus stops when out of nowhere, headlights app-" Gene stopped talking.

"Mai. Please forgive me for this but I have to go. You'll see why later. Can we finish this later?" Another pleading glance at Mai.

"Okay Gene. And...I forgive you. I know how hard it is to think of losing someone." Mai smiled softly and Gene returned her smile.

"Thank you."

~x-X-x~

Mai fell out of the dining room chair with a start as the phone began ringing. As she rushed to pick herself off the floor, Oliver began to cry in the other room. With a groan she answered the phone.

"Hello?"

"Mai, I hate to ask this but do you think you and Oliver could come down to the house that the case is located at? Naru seems to be having some problems controlling your co-workers." She reached the other room and picked up the crying child, rocking him into a lull.

"Madoka-San is Naru okay with this?" There was a slight pause and then she could hear Naru say yes.

"Yep! How soon can you get here?"

~x-X-x~

Madoka grinned and hung the phone up, looking to her partner in crime to the left of her.

"Shame on you, pretending to be Naru like that Yasu-Kun!" The teenager grinned and pushed his glasses up his face.

"Shame on you for going behind Naru's back like that!" They laughed and then winced as the screaming in the other room escalated.

"Why can't we just call Mai to stop by for five minutes Naru? Her dreams could be really helpful right now!"

"We Will Not Be Calling Mai! She's Staying At The Hotel!"

"You're Just Scared That Mai Could be Useful Unlike You, You Old Hag!"

"HAG?!"

"Maybe we should all try to calm down."

"QUIET JOHN!" Madoka sighed and rubbed her temples.

"Let's just hope she gets here soon."

~x-X-x~

Mai stared up at the large, unnatural house. She could do this! Now she just had to knock on the window, if she could stop arguing with herself about it.

"Ma?" She glanced down at Oliver, noting how he seemed very comfortable despite the evil nature of the house. Well, if her so-Oliver could do it, why can't she?! She knocked on the window five times in slow succession, waiting for someone to answer.

"Hello?" The window flew up and Naru glared into her face. His eyes, that normally held at least a small sliver of warmth, were a cold biting greyish-blue. Gone was the deep ocean, endless universe, and swirling sky. Now he was staring at her with harsh layers of ice and steel cutting knives.

"What are you doing here Mai." He didn't ask, he didn't even shout even though it was tearing his insides apart. She was supposed to be at the hotel where she could be safe! Where nothing could grab her like it did that Hara girl!

"Madoka called me and said that you said I was needed! I even heard your voice say of course!" So it wasn't a random drop by. It was that pink, annoying, thing. Maybe even the annoying college student as well.

"Now is not a good time for you to be here Mai. The demon has taken Hara-san. You already know that it takes the youngest person in the house. When Oliver steps foot in there how do you think that's going to end?"

And this dear readers, is where things get interesting.

Mai stared at Naru before her entire body seemed to harden, pulling her arms inward and wrapping Oliver in a blanket of warm safety. She glared at her boss before growling out at him.

"I dare that thing to try and take him away from me." Each word was spoken with enough hate to incinerate a man into nothing, not even ashes. Naru stared in shock, not that it showed on his face, as Mai pulled Oliver into her chest and begin to slightly glow a soft blue/white. "Nothing will hurt my Oliver."

And just like that it was gone: the glowing, the strangely attractive look of fierce protectiveness, the cold demeanor. And in it's place was a confusion of feelings that he had no time for at the moment.

"Very well Mai. Come on in. Maybe you can deal with all the children." The girl smiled and Naru let a smirk cross his face.

"Oh and Mai?"

"Yes?"

"Tea."

~x-X-x~

Masako knew she wasn't the nicest person. Hell she was a horrible person! She used blackmail to get a guy that was searching for his dead twin brother to go out with her! But she didn't deserve this! She didn't deserve to be drained of her blood for some ancient evil demon that bathed in blood simply from fear of death!

Speaking of death, She deserved this. She deserved to die here alone in this house, but...she couldn't bring herself to accept that. She wanted to live, she wants to live. But it looked as if she wasn't going to receive that wish.

"Masako." A gasp escaped her as her head whipped up to stare into those familiar eyes.

"Naru! I didn't know you could astral project!" The man smiled before sitting down and talking with her, smiling softly as she leaned onto his shoulder.

"Masako. I'm not Naru. I'm sorry for not telling you this sooner but I guess I was just scared that you would try to help me move on even though there's something that I have to do first." She sat in stunned silence before composing herself and getting ready to throw on her persona.

"Please don't withdraw yourself like that. No one should be completely emotionless. Besides, you'll be rescued soon. I promise." He smiled one more time, stroked her cheek with a soft hand and then disappeared. Masako stared in awed silence before nodding silently and pulling her knees up to her chest.

"Okay. Okay."

~x-X-x~

"Mai?!" Everyone stared in shock as the girl handed the baby to Naru and climbed through the window. She stood up and dusted herself off before heading for the small mini-kitchen in the corner of the room.

"Mai why are you here?" Monk asked as she began to make Earl Grey.

"Well Madoka called and said you guys needed me so, here I am. Now who want's tea?" She smiled and everyone blinked.

"That's my Mai-chan! So fearless!" Yasu grinned and then stepped forward to wrap her in a hug, lifting her into his arms and spinning her around before setting her back down to where her back was to Naru.

"Careful Yasu! You almost knocked over the tea!" Naru glared at the grinning third year. Not only had he almost knocked over his tea, he also touched Mai. Yasu sent a grin his way and then released the girl.

"Here Naru, I'll take Oliver so you can drink your tea." Mai smiled as she traded tea for her baby. Now it was time to take care of the 'children.'

"Ayako, Monk, why are you two fighting again? You know Naru doesn't like it when you raise your voices over stupid things! Besides, Masako is missing! We don't have time for petty arguments." Ayako's mouth dropped open as the girl walked over to the couch.

"But Mai, we were arguing about whether or not you should stay at the hotel where it's safe!" The red haired miko exclaimed as she jumped to her feet. Mai smiled and reached out to pat her head.

"And I appreciate that you care for me that much but Naru needs quiet time to think." Monk snickered as the stunned miko fell into the chair. The teenage girl plopped into the couch and began to hum softly to the tune of You Are My Sunshine. Oliver yawned before burrowing into Mai's shoulder, hands small hands grasping her shirt.

"Is there a bed here?" Madoka smiled and then motioned towards the small makeshift crib she had been setting up out of all the pillows and blankets. "Thanks Madoka-Chan." After Oliver was laid down, the rest of SPR gathered together to talk in soft whispers.

"We need to figure out where the spirit keeps the people he takes before he kills them. Maybe even were he kills them in the first place." Monk was sitting in a chair, one of his hands cupping his chin as he stared out the window in thought. Ayako was perched on the arm of his chair, looking at her nails.

"We also need to figure out if she's still alive or not." Mai stiffened as they continued to talk. The conversation began to sound like a weird humming noise in the distance as the world began to darken around her.

"MAI!"

~x-X-x~

Gene smiled as the familiar form of Mai Taniyama began to form. When the form was solid he waved his hand to direct the girl where she needed to be. She smiled softly at the glowing, floating balls of light as they drifted every which way. He cleared his throat and the girl let out a gasp before whirling around. She smiled and stepped forward, pausing slightly before a thought registered in her mind.

"Gene! You know where Masako is don't you?" The dead twin smiled.

"I can do you one even better Mai. I can show you where she is." Another wave of his hand and he was watching one girl comfort another. It was amazing to watch. He knew that Masako had a rivalry going with Mai. He also knew that Masako was one of those who doesn't open up easily to other people.

"It's going to be over soon isn't it."

"Of course Eugene. It's just a surprise that the girl is stronger than we realized." A deep voice came from a shadow positioned to Eugene's left. "I figured she would be only a little less powerful than our Eugene here." A woman giggled and the shadow on his right turned to face the other shadow.

"Dear, you know it's because of that project in her school. A mother's protective instincts have been awakened in her." Laughter rang out before the voices faded, along with the shadows, and Gene was left to pull the brunette back into the real world.

~x-X-x~

"Mai, come on girl you need to wake up!" Madoka was sitting on the floor with an unconscious teenager in her lap as the rest of SPR was getting ready for war.

"Ayako do something! You're the nurse aren't you!" Monk was in the red-haired Miko's face screaming, his face pale with worry. John was standing next to him with a hand on the man's shoulder, whispering a prayer under his breath.

"Will you shut up about that! I can't control her body!" Ayako herself had a medical bag in one hand and her purse in the had just finished checking Mai's vitals and to her surprise they were perfectly normal. Lin was sitting next to her, tapping away on his computer as he kept one eyes on his silent charge. The young man was standing next to the crib, cradling a sleeping baby as he glared at the rest of the screaming people.

"Then should we get Naru-kun to do something about that?" Everyone stopped yelling and turned to glare at the grinning third year student.

"Ugh...Someone slap Yasu."

"MAI!" All eyes turned to the moving brunette. Mai smiled as she looked around at her family. They were so cute when they panicked.

"I know where Masako is." The stunned silence was broken by the wailing cry of a child awoken unhappily from his nap.

"MAAAAAA-MAAAAAA!" Oliver had fat little tears rolling down his cheeks as he leaned towards his mother, a sinking, twisting feeling of something bad was twisting in his stomach and he wanted his mother's warmth, her softness and love. He wanted to feel safe. Not that Daddy was doing a bad job, he just wasn't as soft as mommy was!

"Shhh! Mommy's here sweetie, I'm here my sweet Oliver." The brunette was quickly on her feet and standing next to Naru, one of her hands stroking his soft hair as she leaned in to place a kiss on his cheek. She stepped in front of Naru and wrapped her arms around the baby, gently removing him from her boss's arms.

"You're really good at that Mai. How'd you get to be such a good mother? Is there something you're not telling us?" Yasu grinned as he leaned across the couch, his chin propped up on his fist. Naru glared at the flashing glasses and stepped away.

"OW!" Ayako grinned as she swung her purse back up onto her arm. She opened her mouth to say something when she was cut off by a blur of pink.

"Mai! You shouldn't be standing! Or walking around!" Mai laughed and shook her head.

"I'm fine! I've had worse before, honestly Madoka. And besides, Oliver needed me."

~x-X-x~

"This place feels familiar...and Wrong. Something doesn't fit here." Mai stared at the wall with her head tilted to the side as she contemplated the puzzle. Oliver was sleeping silently with his head buried in the short locks of hair that brushed her jaw.

"Then I guess we should leave! You're instincts always prove to be right so we should just go before anything bad happens to you or Oliver!" Monk grabbed her shoulder and went to drag her away. He had been very against the idea of Mai going to see the place simply because she thought it sounded like something from her dream vision. It may have taken an hour and half to convince them to let her go but she had done it!

"Think aloud Mai." Naru watched her as she followed his instructions.

"In my dream I was dragged from my bed and down a series of hallways until we came to this door." The girl paced as she thought, a small bounce added to her step from habit. "Then they dragged me through the door and down another hall...." She trailed off and stared.

"That's IT! Naru we need to tear down the wall!" She grinned and turned around to look him in the eyes, pride shining in her eyes as she helped solve the case.

"Very good Mai. Monk, John, you two start tearing down the wall." Naru walked over to the girl who had been living with him and placed a hand on her lower back, steering her away and into a darker corner of the room. The brown haired girl stared at him in confusion as she shifted Oliver up higher on her shoulder.

"Why'd we move away Naru?"

"Have you ever torn a wall done before Mai? It generally makes noise." He emphasized his last word with a glance at the sleeping babe.

"Oh. Oh! Gah, and I just got him to sleep too!" She pouted and curled her other arm up to cradle Oliver's head softly. Turning her head slowly to kiss his head, she let a sigh escape her lips.

"The silence was beautiful while it laste-"

WHAM!

"-ed." Mai winced as Oliver jolted in her arms before lifting his head, his eyes beginning to water as his mouth twisted into a pout. Oliver, the poor thing, didn't know what was going on. All he knew was that he had been having a lovely dream about his Mama getting along with his Mommy over some strange brown stuff. He didn't really like it that much, he preferred his white stuff. And now there's this huge loud banging and crashing and everything is dark!

"Naru can I borrow your jacket? Or even you?" Grey eyes stared in confusion as she held one of her hands out.

"Why do you need me or my person Mai?" Mai grinned as she stepped closer, a slow bouncing-rock movement accompanying her arms.

"When I worked at the hospital and there were thunder storms, some of the kids I would take care hated the noise. To block it out I would wrap them in a hug and either wrap a blanket around the both of us or get another nurse to be the other side of the hug, and then I would sing to them." Naru nodded slowly before taking a step towards her and removing his jacket. Mai smiled and sat on the floor, letting Naru wrap the jacket around Oliver. The black fabric stopped right by her face and she let a frown cross her lips.

"Sorry Naru, but it looks like I'll need to do the hug thing, you're jacket is not nearly big enough." One of his perfect eyebrows rose before he opened his mouth to make a stupid retort to probably shoot her down and she quickly began to speak, hoping if she rambled enough he would agree.

"I know you don't like physical contact with other people, unless it's to get more information on a case of course, and I know you also don't like screaming but-"

"Fine."

"If you don't help me then Oliver is just going to keep screaming and it will eventually get worse and...wait...what?" Naru smirked as Mai blinked owlishly at him, her mouth dropping open in shock.

"Fine. Besides, we'll need Oliver to be quiet for when the wall is knocked down and the spirits can get to us." He stepped forward once more and wrapped his arms around her lower waist and he tugged until his chest was pressed against her arms and Oliver's back. Another smirk tugged at his lips as he rested his chin on the top of her head.

"N-Naru?" He pulled back to glance at her and raised an eyebrow.

"I thought you were going to sing away the thunderstorm?" The girl flushed before slowly cuddling more into his chest, her head dropping until it was above Oliver's. Naru rested his chin on her head again and rewrapped his arms around her. And then Mai began to sing.

"Last night you were scared of loneliness. The telepathy in your heart called my name. It's not even a miracle that in the future our hearts will be energy. Sleep, sleep gently, forget your sorrow. The years sink into the sea like the setting sun. I'll jump across the starry sky to collect you. I'll jump across the starry sky to collect you." Her voice was soft, and this time Naru didn't recognize the song. She continued to sing, the song slowly drowning out the noise of a wall being torn down and calming the cries of Oliver. He closed his eyes and let her voice wash over him. Unknowingly to him, Mai began to sway softly, causing Naru to sway with her.

And from another corner of the room, a certain pink haired woman grinned as she looked at the camera next to her and the microphone on the other side of the room.

~x-X-x~

Luella smiled as she climbed through the window leading into SPR's base. Madoka had left the window open for her to watch the video feeds so she could see how her son acted around other people versus how he acted with Mai.

"Darling. What are you doing?" The woman froze, turning her head to lock eyes with her husband.

"Oh! Martin dear I didn't see you there! I was just, just picking up some of the papers that Madoka forgot to grab!" She smiled as he propped up his head on his fist.

"Really? Well then I-"

"Wham! Wahhhhh!" Both heads snapped to look at the monitors set up on one corner of the room. In the span of three seconds both parents were sitting at the monitors and watching as two men began to tear down a wall and....

Their son, a teenagers who thinks of people as pumpkins, was wrapping a FEMALE, let alone a Screaming Baby, in a hug. Martin's mouth dropped open as his wife grabbed his arm and shook him, squealing about how she knew that there was indeed something going on between those two.

"Perhaps I can reach you, even though you're far away. I send you this message with all my heart. Hope is certainly a compass that points to love. Sleep, sleep gently, for tomorrow is a continent of dreams." Mai's voice rang out as she softly began to sing, her voice stunning both of them as they watched the two begin to sway slowly together. Soon the crying died out and when Luella glanced at the two blonde men, she noticed that the wall too, was finished.

"Martin."

"I know."

"Wait. Did you ever give him the sex talk?"

"Uh...."

~x-X-x~

"Wow Mai. I didn't know you could sing like that. Normally you sound like a dying cat. OW!" Yasu glared at Ayako, rubbing his head as the miko lowered her hand to peer at her manicured nails. Mai giggled and Naru sighed heavily before opening his eyes and glaring at the glasses clad man.

"Shut up and head back to base with Ayako." The miko opened her mouth to protest only to close it as Mai spoke up from where she was still wrapped in Natu's arms.

"Yasu has no powers and we need our resident doctor to be alive in case there are any injuries. Please Ayako, don't argue." The girl pleaded as she glanced down at Oliver and back up at her friend. The two had a staring contest before the red haired woman sighed.

"Alright. But I'll have you know that I am horrible at planning funerals." And with those parting words she grabbed the perverted student by his ear and began to drag him back to base.

"Now what Naru?" John spoke up from where he and Monk had just finished clearing away the destroyed wall. The priest smiled as he watched his two friends. If he hadn't known any better, he would've thought of them as a happily married couple.

"Now John, we head into the belly of the beast." Mai grinned and wiggled her eyebrows before smoothly slipping out of Naru's arms and walking forward, Oliver propped up silently on her shoulder as he sucked his thumb. The group of six stared at the hole in the wall and the blackness beyond it.

Madoka shuffled over to Lin from where she had stayed in the corner. She reached out and entwined their hands together. The Chinese man stared in confusion at his pink haired companion, raising his one eyebrow in a silent question. She smiled in response and glanced at their ward, who had in the span of silence moved closer to the younger woman, before turning to look back at him. He nodded and leaned down to kiss the top of her head before switching on a flashlight and heading into the hole first.

"Hey Naru, I'm going to head back to base as well! That way if anything happens I can call in backup." Naru nodded before turning and following Mai into the hole.

~x-X-x~

Luella grinned as she stared at the miko and the young teenager.

"Luella!" Her head whipped towards the doorway and then she hopped up and ran to hug her best friend.

"Madoka! Oh did you see the way he was acting! There has to be something there! I refuse to believe that he and that woman are just friends." Madoka nodded and headed over to the monitors.

"I know! It's so adorable! Oh look! They've already made it through the maze!"

~x-X-x~

"Mai, are you sure it's through the right hallway?" The girl nodded as she hugged Oliver closer to her chest. It was weird, to see her baby sleeping when she could feel the evil in the air like tar tugging at her skin. At the same time though, it was nice to have a picture of innocence, a picture of something to protect from the blackness.

"There should be a room with a fireplace, a single chair and end table and a door on the right. It leads to a corridor. Then there will be a maze that leads to the building where...." Mai trailed off as she finished describing the path she had been dragged through. And then she noticed something weird. She felt cold and, alone. But how could she be alone? She had Naru with her, and Oliver. Right?

"This is as far as I can lead you...tell her thank you...she was the only one who listened all...through...." A bright golden glow seemed to pull at the edge of her senses and then she blinked. And just like that was was aware of everything around her. Oliver was no longer in her arms and she was staring at the entrance of the place she had been murdered in her dream.

"Oliver?!" Her head turned and she stopped, sighing in relief as she saw him in Naru's arms. He was safe.

"Mama!" He reached out with grasping hands and was quickly placed back in her arms before he could start crying again. Everyone smiled as they watched the reunion, even Naru had a small tug of his lips for the touching scene.

"What just happened?" The brunette asked, her gaze locking with Naru's.

"The spirit who shared their death with you, possessed you and led us to the center of the maze." Mai blinked as she stared at him.

"Oh." How can he look so calm?

Naru stared back at the girl who was living with him, wondering how she wasn't reacting to being taken over by a spirit. It wasn't as if this happened every day!

"Masako is in there then. Come on, we need to find her!" She strode towards the other building, the lights of the others trailing with her as she opened the door. Everything was covered in dust. On the right, a set of staircases led up into the ceiling and on the left, another corridor stretched on. On the right side, a series of doors stood guard, while on the left another staircase headed upwards.

"Up there!" Mai took off up the stairs, stopping at the top and looking both ways before stopping. She was staring at a blue-green door.

"She's in there." Reaching out with one hand, she opened the door. It slowly creaked open, revealing nothing but blackness. Naru stepped forward and shone a flashlight into the doorway.

"Lin, Monk, you two stay with Mai and I. The rest of you go look down the other hallway." Ayako stared at him with her mouth dropped open.

"No offense to John but by ourselves?!" She closed her mouth as the young man spun around to glare at her.

"As long as you stick together you will be fine Matsuzaki-San." The miko nodded slowly before grabbing the blonde by his sleeve and dragging him the opposite way.

"I don't want to die."

Mai froze as her head whipped around to stare into the darkness. Oliver whimpered and turned to bury his face in her neck as he slept. She stepped forward and entered into the blackness. The rest of the group followed after her.

"Did you guys hear him?" She asked as the walked down a hallway.

"N-"

"Let Me Go! NOOOO!" Mai gasped and took off running down the hallway, screeching to a stop as it opened up into a tiled room. Directly in front of her was a table. Masako was struggling against straps as a knife made its way towards her.

"Mai!" She stared in happy surprise at the girl she thought hated her. The brown haired girl was holding Oliver in her left arm, her left hand holding a flashlight, and with the right hand she held up the seal of the Immovable one.

"On nomaku Sanmanda Basaradan Kan!" She chanted the phrase faster and faster, taking a step forward with the end of each chant until she was finally standing in front of the hovering knife. Mai blinked and inside her head a picture of the two men who had dragged her to her death in her dream flashed,

"Rin! Hyo! Toh! Sha! Kai! Jin! Retsu! Zai! Zen!" Mai moved her right hand quickly through the air, a soft rush of wind accompanying each movement of her hand. A harsh scream sounded out and the knife clattered to the floor with a final clang. Oliver giggled quietly as he watched the pretty colours.

"Mai!" Masako blinked in awe at the woman as she grabbed the knife off the floor and rushed over to remove the straps that held her body down. Tears filled the girl's eyes as she sat up and with shaking arms she engulfed her friend in a hug.

"I Don't Want To Die."

Both girls froze before turning at the same time to look towards the bubbling tub behind them and to the left. The rusted container began to pulse with a dark energy and it was with a start that they both realized the tub was filled with a dark red liquid. As they watched with dread, a leathery hand reached out of the liquid and latched itself onto the side of the tub. After a couple of seconds, the hand was used to pull the rest of the body up. IT was a horrible pale brown, with...blood, dripping down from the top of it's head. A maniacal grin ripped itself across the thing's face and the yellow teeth that bared itself at them was dripping with saliva. The thing that stood out the most however, was the eyes. They bulged out of it's head as if the two bright white orbs were trying to fly away.

"I DON'T WANT TO DIE!" It gave a shiver and then leapt out of the tub, moving quickly on it's skinny limbs towards the small group of three. Masako let out a scream as Mai shifted her stance in front of her.

"MAI!" A shrill whistle sounded out as the girl lifted a hand to start her chanting. "What are you doing?!" Naru, Monk and Lin burst into the room.